Queen Mary Pt 3

[Laura_]

i like this picture very much 

[basilforever]

So do I, I love the Surrey Tiara. It would make a good bridal tiara for the next Royal Bride, if her family doesn't have one of it's own. Did Queen Mary wear it at her wedding?

[Tdora1]

QM reportedly absolutely hated wearing mourning - yet it suited her so well, as that pic shows IMO. Now if she'd only gotten rid of the Alexandra faux-fringe (even QA doesn't flatter from it, let alone those who copied the trend) and then be attired in elegant black with a bit less than usual bling (but some of her best pieces...)and her beautiful golden hair swept in a proper Edwardian up-style. Oh what I would give to see that.    Never mind...

[basilforever]

I think the fringe style suited QA at least very well. She found it and stuck with it and she never looked bad.
I also think QM's ultra jewelled look was just wonderful - when you have THAT many pieces - it would be very hard to pick just a few things. I'd like to see a modern royal do this look - but I don't think any of them would pull it off as well.

[grandduchessella]

Empress Frederick wrote that the look was much taken up by many princesses, including her own daughters, but the fringe really only suited 'Aunt Alix'.

[Duke of New Jersey]

I read that she had to go to the Archbishop of Canterbury before hand so he would know to use extra annointing oil during their coronation! 

-Duke of NJ

[Grace]

Why did she need the extra annointing oil, Duke?

[Duke of New Jersey]

I read that she had to go to the Archbishop of Canterbury before hand so he would know to use extra annointing oil during their coronation! 

-Duke of NJ

I was talking about Alexandra there.

-Duke of NJ

[Duke of New Jersey]

Because her hair/toupee was so thick due to the fringe style. 

-Duke of NJ

[Duke of New Jersey]

Fringe is what you call that sort of curly/poodle hair, isn't it??

-Duke of NJ

[Tdora1]

Princess Marie Louise wrote in her 'Memories of Six Reigns' (1952) that in 1901 the coronation anointing oil poured out the crown and "ran down Alexandra's dear little nose." Crivvens, in front of the entire Westminster Abbey!? At least the peers and their ladies had flasks of brandy about their robes to fortify themselves against such personal annoyances. And EII's ladies in waiting for Her Coronation were very frank about how such refreshments were essential to strengthen them against the excesses of their day! I'd have stowed me sarnies under the tiara at the least - not to mention a map to the shortcut to the lavs.

[Duke of New Jersey]

not to mention a map to the shortcut to the lavs

There was actually quite a shortage of bathrooms at the 1902 coronation.  I read in "Edward and Alexandra' that the peeresses had to literally fight their way to the bathrooms and one of them had quite a tumble, it sounded pretty funny!

-Duke of NJ

[basilforever]

Maybe it is a bit usual to have a line of oil run down the forehead, not having seen a coronation up close I don't know about that. Otherwise, how embarrassing for Alexandra.

[Duke of New Jersey]

Maybe it is a bit usual to have a line of oil run down the forehead, not having seen a coronation up close I don't know about that. Otherwise, how embarrassing for Alexandra.

Actually the Duchess of Marlborough (Vanderbilt) said that Alexandra did not flinch at all when the oil ran down her nose.  She just looked at Vanderbilt and sort of asked (without saying anything) "is it bad." 

-Duke of NJ

[Grace]

This is really nice!  I just found it on eBay.  I haven't seen this picture of May before and think it is superb.  I love to see pictures of her more simply dressed.  .